DIY Yard Waste/Compost Bin Made From Hardware Cloth

This wonderful piece of functional art was created by my friend Tom Powers. I have a hunch he regards stores like the Home Depot (or where I live, the farm supply store) as potential art supply shops just like I do. Using two sizes of hardware cloth, he created this compost bin for his ocean-side home.

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All edges on the top were bent to form a hem and make the hinged lid a bit stiffer.

Tom lives by the ocean the bin will slowly self-recycle itself.

This style of compost bin won’t suit everyone—I would use it for large yard waste— but it opens up a whole bunch of ideas for hardware cloth garden and garden art projects.

You cut hardware cloth with wire clippers/snippers. The strength of the wire varies greatly depending on the manufacturer, so be sure to purchase clippers that work easily on the hardware cloth you’re using.

Also, bending back the wire to form hinges and joins can be tricky: there will be sharp wire ends to contend with. Wear safety glasses and gloves for your own protection.

More Ideas

This same method could be used to create a free-standing vertical planter. Or create shapes like giant letters or hearts. Fill them with soil, plants, or stones to make cool garden art.

About Melissa J. Will

Melissa J. Will is a home and garden blogger (writer, photographer, artist) from Ontario, Canada. Favourite obsessions include repurposed DIY projects and tutorials, organic gardening, creative garden ideas, debt-free living, nature (what more is there?), and sustainable living—all with a dash of humour and side order of freshly-grown salad greens.

From my research, compost needs to be mixed, or turned occasionally. If I build this compost enclosure, is it easy enough to turn while keeping it in the ‘cage’, or do you have to lift away the cage, turn, then shovel it all back in? I’m looking for something to keep my dogs out of the compost pile, that I can still access easily. TIA!

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